NEWS ARCHIVE

Police warn residents of increased burglaries

Security experts offer advice to protect homes

Warmer weather in central Iowa may be leading to more burglaries.Des Moines police officers and security experts have warned homeowners to be on alert.

Police warn residents of increased burglaries

Security experts offer advice to protect homes

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 7:45 AM CDT May 31, 2012

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Warmer weather in central Iowa may be leading to more burglaries.

Des Moines police officers and security experts have warned homeowners to be on alert.

Advertisement

Police have arrested more than 40 burglary suspects in May alone, and security experts said there are a few easy ways to make a home more secure.

"If they see somebody that has left their lawnmower out, their bicycle in the garage with the door up, that's an opportunity," Des Moines Police Department Sgt. Larina Blad said. "You need to make sure when you leave, you leave the lights on. Leave the radio on. Lock your doors. Secure your windows."

Blad said warmer weather could be to blame for the increase in crime.

"With the weather warming up, we've had a slight increase over the January-February statistics for burglaries," Blad said.

Authorities said crime can happen at any time, and criminals will use any way possible to gain entry in their search for loot.

"Firearms are popular. Pawnable items -- jewelry, money, they try and do bonds and certificates, credit cards, checkbooks. They try to steal identities, so you need to be careful," Blad said.

Security expert Tom Conley said there are several simple things that can help protect a home.

"Certainly, deadbolt locks, solid-core doors, frames that are solid. The weakest link in a door system is a door strike," Conley said, referring to where the lock's latch fits into the frame through the strike plate.

Even trimming shrubbery can deter would-be thieves.

"A burglar can slip into here, and especially, in the front bush, have pretty good coverage, so I would want to keep these trimmed up," Conley said. "Burglars hate three things: They hate people who see them, they hate light at night, and they hate it when there's nowhere to hide. So if you can deny a burglar those things, you've done what we call 'harden the target.'"

And while experts recommend having a secured safe inside a home and an alarm system, perhaps the best tool to protect a home is to get to know neighbors.

A good neighborhood watch program can work wonders for lowering burglary rates.